Revolutionary Upgrade: World's Largest MBR Retrofitted with FibrePlate™

Revolutionary Upgrade: World's Largest MBR Retrofitted with FibrePlate™

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Background of the Adelphas wastewater treatment plant
3. Challenges faced by the plant
4. Investigation and selection of treatment options
5. The switch to membrane technology
6. Benefits and drawbacks of the new membrane system 6.1 Pros 6.2 Cons
7. Evaluation and improvement of other areas 7.1 Screening issues 7.2 Hydraulic issues 7.3 High power costs
8. Cost-saving measures
9. Space utilization and efficiency
10. Conclusion

Introduction

The Adelphas wastewater treatment plant was facing significant challenges due to an aging trickling filter plant and non-compliance with EPA discharge limitations. This article will discuss the steps taken by the city of Adelphas to address these issues and improve the treatment process. In particular, it will focus on the switch to membrane technology and the benefits and drawbacks of this new system. It will also explore other areas of improvement, cost-saving measures, and the utilization of space and efficiency.

Background of the Adelphas wastewater treatment plant

The Adelphas wastewater treatment plant is a combined sewer system with a large number of combined sewers and significant industrial contributors. The plant was finding itself in non-compliance with EPA discharge limitations, which led to the need for investigation and improvement of the treatment process. The original plant used traditional activated sludge technology but faced various challenges, including sludging issues and the need for regular maintenance and cleaning of the membranes.

Challenges faced by the plant

The city of Adelphas faced several challenges with its wastewater treatment plant. The plant's combined sewer system and the influx of stormwater during rainfall caused overflows and increased the load on the plant. This resulted in the plant being unable to meet its design capacity and treat the required amount of wastewater. In addition, the high strength of wastewater from industrial sources and washing systems contributed to the failure of the biological treatment process. The fouling of membranes was a major issue, reducing the plant's capacity and requiring frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Investigation and selection of treatment options

To address the challenges faced by the plant, the city of Adelphas started investigating different types of treatment options. One technology that stood out was the use of membranes. The plant considered both older technologies such as the oxidation ditch and newer technologies like the membranes. After evaluating various manufacturers, a hybrid fiber cast membrane was selected as the technology of choice. This flexible membrane could be easily cleaned and showed promising results in terms of reliability and handling stormwater fluctuations and wastewater strength.

The switch to membrane technology

The switch to membrane technology marked a significant improvement for the Adelphas wastewater treatment plant. The new membranes had better fouling resistance, allowing for improved treatment capacity. With the implementation of the membrane system, the plant was able to treat a larger volume of wastewater and meet the effluent requirements set by the EPA. The efficiency of the process was greatly enhanced, resulting in a higher quality of effluent and the removal of a significant percentage of viruses and bacteria.

Benefits and drawbacks of the new membrane system

While the switch to membrane technology brought numerous benefits to the Adelphas wastewater treatment plant, there were also some drawbacks. The pros of the new system included improved treatment capacity, better fouling resistance, and higher efficiency. The cons involved the need for regular cleaning and maintenance of the membranes, as well as the initial cost of implementing the new technology. However, the long-term cost-saving measures, such as reduced power consumption, outweighed the drawbacks.

Evaluation and improvement of other areas

In addition to the implementation of the new membrane system, the Adelphas wastewater treatment plant also focused on improving other areas of the treatment process. The screening system was upgraded to prevent solids from bypassing the screens and causing fouling issues. Hydraulic issues, both at the inlet and outlet of the membrane trains, were addressed to ensure proper flow distribution and prevent overloading. Measures were also taken to reduce high power costs associated with the previous membrane system.

Cost-saving measures

The city of Adelphas recognized the need to save costs to repay the loans taken for the plant improvements. Power cost reduction was a significant factor in achieving this goal. By switching to the new membrane system and implementing other efficiency measures, such as reducing equipment and optimizing space utilization, the plant was able to save a substantial amount on power costs. This savings were allocated towards paying off the loan for the necessary improvements.

Space utilization and efficiency

The implementation of the new membrane system and other efficiency measures resulted in a significant reduction in the space required for treatment. With the removal of obsolete equipment and the integration of the new membranes, a substantial amount of space was freed up in the treatment room. The utilization of space was optimized, leading to improved workflow and efficient use of resources.

Conclusion

The Adelphas wastewater treatment plant successfully tackled the challenges of an aging trickling filter plant and non-compliance with EPA discharge limitations. By switching to membrane technology and addressing other areas of improvement, the plant was able to increase its treatment capacity and meet effluent requirements. The implementation of cost-saving measures and optimization of space utilization further improved the overall efficiency of the plant. The Adelphas wastewater treatment plant serves as a prime example of a successful upgrade and improvement project in the wastewater industry.